Posted on 07/08/2011 10:24:46 AM PDT by raccoonradio
Cecilia Thompson was working as a FEMA contractor doing demolition in Mississippi in 2008 when U.S. Sen. John McCain announced Sarah Palin as his running mate. Friends and family started calling immediately, saying “that lady running for vice president looks just like Cecilia.”
About a year later, Thompson, a North Shore native who splits time between Massachusetts and Colorado, began working as a part-time Sarah Palin impersonator at political events and business functions.
Thompson, who gives her age as “older than Sarah,” sat atop the Green Monster in-character last night after winning tickets in an “As Seen on TV” costume contest with her Palin look.
She sat down with the Herald yesterday afternoon before the game for an interview.
How often do you get mistaken for Palin?
No matter where I go, at the grocery store ... Even when I’m not trying. I could be in sweats and a T-shirt, with my hair in a pony tail, no makeup, going to Home Depot getting lumber.
Most positive reaction?
This one little boy, he was so cute, he had his little gym bag and he thought I was Sarah, and he dropped his gym bag, ripped it open, pulled out a brand-new baseball, and said, “Will you sign this for me?” I had to break it to him, I didn’t want to sign it, since I wasn’t really Sarah. But he just thought it was so exciting I was a look-alike. He said, “Mom, she’s a look-alike!”
Most negative reaction?
Every now and then I get a “go back to Alaska.”
What happens if Palin fades from the spotlight?
That’s fine. I’ve had several careers throughout my life. This is a fun time for me. If I continue it, that’s fine. If I don’t, that’s fine. There’s certainly a lot of opportunity here.
What kind of people have you met through the job?
I’ve been able to meet Sen. John McCain, Sen. Scott Brown. I have met Speaker of the House Bob DeLeo and Sen. Jack Hart, here in Massachusetts. Newt Gingrich.
What was it like to meet Palin herself?
She said, “Oh my gosh, I feel like I’m looking in a mirror.” How much do you charge?
That’s a “gotcha” question. It varies depending on the event, how close it is, how many people, if they want me to prepare my own speech, or if they’ve prepared a speech, if I need to fly cross-country . . . It’s $500 to $5,000.
Have you read Palin’s book?
You betcha — actually I got it on tape.
Are you hoping she runs for president?
I don’t know if I can handle it. It’s a bit of a roller coaster, being Sarah. It’s not easy . . . Professionally the George Bush impersonators and the Barack Obama impersonators that I know, when they became presidents, their careers have really taken off.
Do you think she can win?
When Sarah is asked that question, she thinks she can win. ... Here in Massachusetts, in my opinion, she has a bigger fan base than she realizes.
Palin gets attention from men as a sex symbol — do you?
I have been asked to dinner. When they find out I’m not really Sarah, they’re like, “Wow, can I take you out for dinner?” But I’m happily married, so that’s not a problem.
Sarah Palin, at left, says hi to look-a-like Cecilia Thompson, a celebrity tribute artist, after Palin toured Boston’s Old North Church, June 2, 2011.
>>This one little boy, he was so cute, he had his little gym bag and he thought I was Sarah, and he dropped his gym bag, ripped it open, pulled out a brand-new baseball, and said, “Will you sign this for me?”
The sad part is the boy probably thought she was Dustin Pedroia or Jacoby Ellsbury.
>>Thompson, who gives her age as “older than Sarah,”
Uh, yeah...
I am okay with it as long as it isn’t that loser Tina Fey. I listened to the first few chapters of her biography (on audio, because my wife was listening to it) and she epitomizes all that I dislike in liberal women.
(ok it says he thought she was Sarah but —signing a baseball? :) )
Shortly after Sarah was nominated for VP, I was teaching a CE seminar, and a lady in the second row was a dead ringer.
I’d keep getting a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye and have to suppress a double-take.
Sheeze, it might have helped had she actually done an impersonation in the interview, talk about missing the point ...
Continuing Education, or Conformitie European?
Civil Engineering?
Meh
The former. I wouldn’t be good at the latter.
It’s mostly the glasses and hairstyle. She really doesn’t look that much like her.
They’re easier to carry than footballs and rifles.
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